Filipino bakery workers win $15 million in trafficking suit

LOS ANGELES—Eleven Filipino bakery workers say they won $15 million in damages in a human trafficking lawsuit against a couple who they said forced them to do housework after arriving in the United States and paid them a meagre wages.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles said Friday that a federal judge in Los Angeles granted the judgment on behalf of the workers last week.

The workers were brought to the U.S. on visas to work at L’Amande French Bakery or to work as nannies. Once here, they said bakery owners Analiza and Goncalo Moitinho de Almeida had them work at least 13 hours a day for scant pay.

Some workers who complained said they were fired.

A message seeking comment was left for the bakery owners’ lawyer, Joshua Kimura.